The Episcopal Bishop of Washington, Marian Edgar Budde, on Monday urged Donald Trump to show compassion toward marginalized groups, including gay, lesbian and transgender children as well as undocumented immigrants.
“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on those in our country who are now afraid,” Bishop Budde said during Trump’s inaugural prayer service at Washington National Cathedral. “Democratic, Republican and Independent families have gay, lesbian and transgender children. Some who fear for their lives.”
President Trump, seated with First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, dismissed the service as ineffective.
Who is Bishop Marian Edgar Budde?
- Bishop Marian Edgar Budde grew up in New Jersey and Colorado. He received a BA in History from the University of Rochester in New York. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree (1989) and a Doctor of Ministry degree (2008) from Virginia Theological Seminary.
- He spent nearly two decades (18 years) as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bishop Budde serves as the spiritual leader of 86 Episcopal congregations and ten Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties.
- In 2011, she became the first woman to serve as the spiritual leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, which oversees the National Cathedral.
- She is also president of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which oversees the ministries of Washington National Cathedral and its schools. The 65-year-old is known for her advocacy on issues such as gun violence prevention, racial equality, immigration reform, full inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals, and environmental care.
- She is married to her husband Paul and the couple have two sons. He also has grandchildren.
Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th US president on Monday, issued several executive orders, including rolling back transgender rights and tightening immigration policies. The 78-year-old also signed an order ending birthright citizenship, which states that a child born in the US will not be granted citizenship unless at least one parent is a US citizen or green card holder. Don’t be.
Bishop Budde also had a message for Trump during his first term. In 2020, he publicly criticized the use of the Bible as a political offering at St. John’s Church after officers used tear gas against racial justice protesters in Lafayette Square. In an op-ed for The New York Times, he condemned their actions, saying they misused sacred symbols while promoting ideas that contradicted the teachings of the Bible.
